Your top 3 favorite items for living aboard

[Winf]

Watermaker that makes a decent amount of water - thanks Rich from Cruise RO!

Hot water system - it's small and runs off the Honda like the Watermaker. 15 minutes run for a hot shower at the end of the day that is a real pleasure.

Our new 3 way galley mixer tap - hot, cold and drinking all in one. Love not hand pumping.

Winf

[El Pinguino]

1/ A good heater.

2/ A good functional source of electrons... the full outfit - generation and storage.

3/ a comfy bed.

Then there is of course the 'Earl Butz 3'.... he directed it at 'coloreds'(sic) but in all truth it applies to the entire human race.... the male half at least ... This Day in Quotes: The infamous quote that revealed Earl was a bigoted Butz-hole…

[GeWil]

Some items such as a VHF, chartplotter, stove etc are not optional. After cruising for 15 plus yrs. our list would be:
A good charging system, a combination of wind and solar
A watermaker
An autopilot
and to add a 4th a SSB radio. Weather will become a religion to you and this makes it available wherever you are. Also very useful if you have serious issues and are out of VHF range

[barnakiel]

But the OP said living aboard.

I mean AP, SSB and living aboard?

b.

[easyvictor]

Hey all, thanks for the helpful and interesting feedback. I realize now that the terms "live aboard" and "cruising" may mean very different things to some, and so I'm sorry for the confusion. What I meant was, I will traveling on the boat around the world, as well as living exclusively on the boat during that time. Most time will likely be spent at anchor, the rest on passages. I won't be parked in a marina much at all.

Therefore things like "a good boat"and "sails" aren't helpful, but it is useful to hear how much people value solar energy, versus wind, versus generators, for example. It's also really great to hear the less common things one might not expect, so keep em coming!

Cheers

[River Cruiser]

#1 Large tankage - extend interval between pump outs and filling water tank.
#2 larger fridge - to limit shopping trips.
#3 comfortable bed - for good nights sleep.

Makes living aboard in marina easier and also when cruising being able to anchor out till requiring a marina visit.


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[Bulawayo]

As Ann says the ability to fix things. To that end, the single most used book on board has been Nigel Calders Mechanical and electrical maintenance book. It has taught me heaps on how to repair just about everything.

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

There's a huge difference between being "only" liveaboarding and having a full time cruising lifestyle.

For the latter, dodger, autopilot, boat set up for shorthanded sailing.

For the day-to-day living: Having real coffee is important to Jim; at least one pressure cooker; the last one is not a thing, but the ability to fix *stuff*, imho.

Ann

[Bulawayo]

My wife insists on two pressure cookers (and they have to be Kuhn Rikin for some reason) - she has a an 8 litre and the fry pan version - lids are interchangeable, they use the same seals, and can share a standard glass lid when used as standard pans.

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

There's a huge difference between being "only" liveaboarding and having a full time cruising lifestyle.

For the latter, dodger, autopilot, boat set up for shorthanded sailing.

For the day-to-day living: Having real coffee is important to Jim; at least one pressure cooker; the last one is not a thing, but the ability to fix *stuff*, imho.

Ann

[Bulawayo]

Top 'n' ?

Originally Posted by Shrew

It would be easier to break this into sub categories:

1) Top 'n' for the boat

The boat doesn't care about reading, drinking or eating. Good electronics and being comfortable and safe are very important to us.

2) Top 'n' for the Galley

The galley doesn't care about the boat. Food is important to us and we enjoy cooking as a past time.

3) Top 'n' for the crew

A happy crew is a happy cruise. Not being able to read or have cold drinks would end a cruise pretty quickly. Ice is a never ending quest on my boat.

[Bulawayo]

Winf, can you elaborate on your hotwater, please? You run your Honda for 15 minutes to get a hot water shower? I would love to learn more. Cheers.

Originally Posted by Winf

Watermaker that makes a decent amount of water - thanks Rich from Cruise RO!

Hot water system - it's small and runs off the Honda like the Watermaker. 15 minutes run for a hot shower at the end of the day that is a real pleasure.

Our new 3 way galley mixer tap - hot, cold and drinking all in one. Love not hand pumping.

Winf

[double u]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Good list, Hudson, but sheesh, I put having a first mate that loves the life as much as I do as the number one requirement, not the third!

Jim

second that!!! t'was the most important factor getting me rtw thrice!!! bar NONE!

[finefurn]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

1) Beer
2) Some chick to watch while I am drinking 1)
3) Redundancy is v important on boats, so a second 2) in case the first 2) wears out.



.

I like your way of thinking

[puffcard]

Refrigeration, cruised years with ice box and now having cold beers and ice is so good. Once traded a ten pounds grouper for ten pounds of ice.

Super water filter like a Seagull, no water bottles and the water taste so good. Filters out everything.

Solar panels, not having to run motor to charge batteries is huge.

[Kenomac]

1. 10 kw generator.

2. Two watermakers

3. Three refrigerators (1 Fridge, 1 deep freezer and 1 icemaker)

[J Clark H356]

Cruisers - not full time liveaboard
5kw Northern Lights generator
Top loading Deep freezer and refrigerator units
Microwave